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Finding Shadowheart’s parents inBaldur’s Gate 3is as much of a surprise as learning her parents were still alive in the first place. They’re located in the deepest chamber of the House of Grief, and in true Baldur’s Gate fashion, you’ll have a heavy decision to make.
Do you make Shadowheart kill her own parents? Or do you save Shadowheart’s parents in firm opposition to Lady Shar, the Goddess of Darkness and Loss? There’s no winning solution here, and each comes with heavy consequences. If you’re not sure what choice to make here, we’ll give you all you need to ease the process. All of this assumes you didn’tgive Shadowheart over to Mother Superior, of course.
Updated July 04, 2025, by Sean Murray:Whether you choose to save Shadowheart’s parents or not has significant consequences, so there’s no shame in reading up on what this choice entails. That’s why we’ve refreshed this guide with improved formatting and more links to other helpful Baldur’s Gate 3 topics.
Shar Questline: What Happens If You Execute Shadowheart’s Parents?
If you choose to take Shadowheart down the path of the Dark Justiciar, you’ll learn of Shadowheart’s parents only after you find them hanging in the House of Grief.Shar herself will demand that Shadowheart execute them. This isundoubtedly the evil path.
Of course, allowing Shadowheart to execute her parentswill result in their death,but it’s much more than that. Killing Shadowheart’s parents willsend them to eternal torment in the dark afterlife with Shar, forever separated from their goddess of worship.
Additionally,Shadowheart’s memory will be wiped againas she gains more power. She’llforget she ever had parentsand won’t believe you if you tell her what she’s done afterward. You’ll be the only one who has to live with the decision.
On the plus side, Shadowheart willgain immense powerunder Shar.Any remaining Justiciars in the previous room will be under her controland join you for the final battle.
If you kill all the Justiciars in the other room, there will be no one to join you in the final battle. This makes Shadowheart’s choice more of a story and a moral one without any visible gameplay benefit.
Selune Questline: What Happens If You Kill Shadowheart’s Parents?
Unlike in the Shar questline, killing Shadowheart’s parents if she walks the path of Selune is vastly different. Shar will demand Shadowheart kill them, but this comes with the added bonus thatShadowheart will be forever relieved of Shar’s burden.
Shadowheart’s parents ask for her to go through with itfor themselves and for her future, making their death more of a mercy kill than an execution.
If you decide to go through with this death,Shadowheart’s parents will bedelivered to Selune and become “Moonmotes.“These celestial lights are said to always travel with Shadowheart, supporting her forevermore.
Additionally,Shadowheart’s painful curse will be lifted. She’ll be forever free of Shar, but she’ll have to live without her parents and the guilt of having killed them. Though their being Moonmotes seems to dampen the hurt ever so slightly.
At the end of the game,if you choose to romance Shadowheart, she reveals the depth of her guiltand emotions by stating that she would have given anything, even the curse, to speak with them again.
However, Shadowheartappears to accept this loss and offers you a place with her,wherever that may be. She takes the steps to move on despite the regret she carries, giving her ending a bittersweet taste.
What Happens If You Betray Shar And Save Shadowheart’s Parents?
you’re able to choose to save Shadowheart’s parents on either path (Shar or Selune). Both paths will lead to the same outcome with this choice:Shadowheart’s parents will be freed and brought to campto join you for the remainder of the game.
Emmeline, Shadowheart’s mother, will continue to suffer from severe memory loss and her steeply declining health, butshe’ll give wisdom and comfort to Shadowheart. Arnell will continuously offer his wisdom.
Together, the two have amarked improvement in Shadowheart’s moodas they support her for the rest of the story (and likely after).
The drawback of this choice is thatShadowheart’s curse will continue to linger.Although the true nature of the curse is slightly vague, it apparentlyphysically agonizes and tortures Shadowheart nightlyand will continue to do so for the rest of her life.
According to several sources, thecurse also dampens Shadowheart’s ability to feel and express emotions.
At the end of the game, if you choose to romance Shadowheart, she states that she’llsettle down near them in a quiet home, spending the rest of their lives with them.
She is still deeplyafflicted by the pain of Shar’s cursein the end, but she statesshe can weather it as long as she has both you and her parents.However, Shadowheart’s life promises to be a long one as a half-elf, and theending leaves some ambiguityabout how Shadowheart will endure centuries of torture after her parents' passing.
